Let’s walk through a quick list of reflections with specific questions to help you and your teams bring your best selves into 2024!
Reflect on Your Commitments
It is likely you set goals at the beginning of the year. You may have accomplished some while others may have fallen short. Ask yourself and your team members to reflect on 2023 by asking these questions:
- What am I most proud of?
- What goals and commitments did I keep?
- What’s something I wanted to do, but didn’t make time for?
- How can I be better at committing to things I can accomplish?
The answers to these questions can even help lead into the annual review discussion. As you begin the goal setting process again, this can aide in setting personal objectives for the new year.
Reflect on the Positive Behaviors
In addition to the wins on the scoreboard, it’s also important to find trends in the positive behaviors that contributed to the accomplishments. Reflect on some of the peak moments of the year, and dive into critical behaviors made success possible.
- What are some new skills you’ve acquired?
- What are some new things you’ve learned?
- What were the wins worth celebrating?
- What behaviors or mindsets were required to accomplish these things?
Reflect on the Hard Lessons
Of course, it can’t all be sunshine and rainbows. It’s also important to think back on the hardships and struggles of the year. Be honest with yourself on what went wrong. And even better, what can be done differently moving forward to avoid similar issues in 2024.
- Was this something I could have seen coming?
- Would better preparation have helped?
- Was I too busy?
- What would make this go better next time?
This exercise is important to keep the frame of context of learning from our mistakes, not re-living mistakes and triggering self-criticism. Conversations like this are also critical to make strides in the level of honesty and vulnerability between you and your team members. Create the safe space to be open and make their concerns actionable to show your commitment to help make positive change.